Page 98 of A Foolish Flirtation

“Oh well done, Teddy!” she said, seizing hold of the suggestion at once. “You are quite right!” She gave him a little round of applause and Mr. Penrose wiped his brow with a silk handkerchief.

“Plaster, columns,” he murmured feverishly, his pencil moving across his page. “A votive niche perhaps?”

As he did not seem to require their input, Emmie exchanged a glance with Teddy, and he started chattering about how soon they could set off to the maze. “I mean to show you three different routes,” he said proudly. “And I have a ball of wool I borrowed from Mrs. Cheviot for Miss Pinson to unravel, so she feels safe she will not get lost.”

“That was a very kind thought,” Emmie told him, hoping Pinky would not get too hopelessly tangled up in the process. Ten minutes later, after taking a few measurements, Mr. Penrose left them to work on his designs in the library. He took his departure coldly, though Emmie was not sure if this was due to his crushing defeat or his corset. Either way, she fancied she would not have any more problems with Mr. Penrose.

The next couple of hours were spent pleasantly, if damply, walking first down to the folly and then to the maze. Emmie and Pinky strolled arm in arm with Teddy leading the way with authority, carrying the still-furled umbrella as though it were a scepter.

“Mama,” he began tentatively when they reached the folly, “what did you mean at dinner last night when you asked if Mr. Wimble was building an amphitheater?”

“Well, that was just a joke, really. I thought it would entertain your papa,” Emmie told him. “You see he told me how he used to pretend the folly was a gladiator training school when he was a child.”

“A ludus,” Teddy agreed. “He used to practice with a wooden sword and strike the columns with it. Like this!” He swung the umbrella with purpose, demonstrating the exact technique one should employ.

“Careful, dear,” Pinky entreated mildly.

“Well, I wish he would build one,” Teddy said glumly. “It would be a jolly sight more impressive than a fake ruin with roses growing over them. Can you not persuade him, Mama? It need only be a small one.”

They ducked inside the folly and Emmie struck a match and lit a candle, revealing the dark interior to Pinky and the half-moon bench.

“What would we use an amphitheater for?” she asked, noticing Teddy was still hovering expectantly for her answer. “If we were to persuade him, then I imagine we would need to convince him it would serve some purpose.”

Teddy’s expression brightened. “Well, we could reopen the ludus,” he suggested. “And I could start training there. Uncle Nye promised that when I’m ten he will give me some boxing lessons, so I could practice in the amphitheater.”

Emmie nodded. “And I suppose we could also put on other performances in there, of a less combative nature.”

Pinky’s ears pricked up. “You mean like poetry recitation and plays?” she asked.

“Why not? We could even display some of your artwork in the folly. Would that not be nice, Teddy? I know you two have plans to do some sketches on the grounds.”

“We could have a show!” Pinky said, clapping her hands. “Maybe even a musical concert in here! If it was cleaned up a little,” she added, glancing around at the dusty chamber. “That domed roof might produce a nice sound.”

Teddy looked a little less enthusiastic about these suggestions. “Ye-es,” he agreed cautiously. “We could do that, when it is not in use for fighting,” he conceded generously.

After inspecting the folly and walking the circumference of the area Teddy was convinced would work best for an amphitheater, they proceeded to the maze, which was not as disorientating as Emmie had expected. Really, it would be quite hard to get lost in it, despite all the tall hedges.

“Oh, what a lovely fountain!” Miss Pinson exclaimed when they reached the fountain at the center. “It would make such a pretty sketch. Is it a seahorse?”

“A hippocampus,” Teddy informed her. “The horse half is supposed to look like my father’s favorite horse, Cadmus.”

“Was his likeness used?” Emmie asked with interest.

Teddy nodded. “Shall you try to find your own way out now? And then you can attempt it on your own with the ball of wool.” Pinky looked alarmed. “Don’t worry,” Teddy assured her. “You won’t see me, but I will make sure you do not get too lost.”

“Take heart,” Emmie said bravely. “I feel sure I have a good sense of direction.”

They did get lost but as Teddy kept popping out from behind hedges and silently pointing the way to them before disappearing again, they managed to find their way back out again without too much fruitless wandering.

The second attempt to find the center with the ball of wool was a lot more chaotic and at one point, Emmie even suspected that Teddy was leading them astray.

“Oh dear, this wool keeps snagging and it feels like this has taken twice as long to reach the middle as the first time,” Pinky lamented.

“Teddy did say there were different routes,” Emmie reminded her. “This one must be the long way round.”

“If only the hedges were pruned a little shorter,” Pinky fretted. “Then we could see direction we should be headed toward.”

“That’s not how it works.” Teddy’s voice spoke out from somewhere nearby, making Pinky give a startled yelp. He rolled out from underneath a hedge. “At one point you have to feel like you’re heading away from the center,” he said earnestly.